AD 2013-21-05R1

AD Final Rules - 2013-21-05R1.pdf
Copy URL
Document Versions
 Feedback
DetailsAttachments/Public Comments
AD Number:
2013-21-05R1
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
FAA-2013-0446
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Previously Eurocopter Deutschland Gmb...Show more
Subject:
Tail Rotor Control System
Status:
Current
Citation:
Federal Register Volume 83, Number 222 (Friday, November 16, 2018)
Citation Publish Date:
11/16/2018
Effective Date:
12/21/2018
Make:
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
Model:
EC135P1 | EC135P2 | EC135P2+ | EC135T1 | EC135T2 | EC135T2+/EC635T2+
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Rotorcraft
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
2013-21-05
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
AIR-700: Compliance & Airworthiness Division
Office of Primary Responsibility:
AIR-730: International Validation Branch
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
Automatic Zoom
Actual Size
Page Fit
Page Width
⁨50⁩%
⁨75⁩%
⁨100⁩%
⁨125⁩%
⁨150⁩%
⁨200⁩%
⁨300⁩%
⁨400⁩%
125%
of ⁨7⁩
1


[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 222 (Friday, November 16, 2018)]


[Rules and Regulations]


[Pages 57675-57677]


From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[FR Doc No: 2018-24989]


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Federal Aviation Administration


14 CFR Part 39


[Docket No. FAA-2013-0446; Product Identifier 2010-SW-007-AD; Amendment 39-19498; AD


2013-21-05R1]


RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Previously Eurocopter


Deutschland GmbH) Helicopters


AGENCY:
 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.


ACTION:
 
Final rule.


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


SUMMARY:
 
We are revising Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-21-05 for Eurocopter Deutschland


GmbH (now Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH) (Airbus Helicopters) Model EC135 P1, P2,


P2+, T1, T2, and T2+ helicopters. AD 2013-21-05 required an initial and repetitive inspections of


certain bearings and modifying the floor and a rod. Since we issued AD 2013-21-05, we have


determined that modifying the floor and rod removes the unsafe condition. This AD retains the


requirements of AD 2013-21-05 but removes the repetitive inspections. The actions of this AD are


intended to prevent an unsafe condition on these products.


DATES:
 
This AD is effective December 21, 2018.


The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain


publication listed in this AD as of December 5, 2013 (78 FR 65169, October 31, 2013).


ADDRESSES:
 
For service information identified in this final rule, contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701


N Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972)


641-3775; or at http://www.airbushelicopters.com/website/technical-expert/. You may view this


referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101


Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. It is also available on the internet at


http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2013-0446.


Examining the AD Docket


You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No.


FAA-2013-0446; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through


Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the European Aviation Safety
2


Agency (EASA) AD, any incorporated-by-reference information, the economic evaluation, any


comments received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-


5527) is Docket Operations, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West


Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 
Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety Engineer,


Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth,


TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email matthew.fuller@faa.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Discussion


We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to remove AD


2013-21-05, Amendment 39-17629 (78 FR 65169, October 31, 2013) (AD 2013-21-05) and add a


new AD. AD 2013-21-05 applied to Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (now Airbus Helicopters) Model


EC135 P1, P2, P2+, T1, T2, and T2+ helicopters with bearing part number (P/N) LN9367GE6N2;


rod P/N L671M5040205; lever P/N L671M5040101; and floor P/N L533M1014101,


L533M1014102, L533M1014103, L533M1014104, L533M1014105 or L533M1014106 installed.


AD 2013-21-05 required inspecting each bearing for freedom of movement within 100 hours time-in-


service (TIS) and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 800 hours TIS. AD 2013-21-05 also required


modifying the floor and modifying and re-identifying the rod with a new P/N. The NPRM published


in the Federal Register on April 2, 2018 (83 FR 13883). The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2006-


0318R2, dated April 25, 2017, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States


of the European Union, issued to correct an unsafe condition for all Eurocopter Model EC 135


helicopters. EASA determined, based on a review of data and operator feedback, that repetitive


inspections are not required for helicopters with the modified rod and floor. EASA accordingly


revised its AD to remove the repetitive inspections.


Accordingly, the NPRM proposed to retain the requirements of AD 2013-21-05 but remove the


repetitive inspections. The proposed actions were intended to detect and prevent the binding of a


bearing, which could lead to loss of helicopter control.


Comments


We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD, but we received no


comments on the NPRM.


FAA's Determination


These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of Germany and are approved for


operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with Germany, EASA, its


technical representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in its AD. We are issuing


this AD because we evaluated all information provided by EASA and determined that an unsafe


condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type designs and


that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.


Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD


The EASA AD sets compliance times from its original effective date of October 20, 2006, and


this AD does not. This AD requires modifying each rod within 100 hours TIS, rather than within 800


hours TIS as specified in the EASA AD. This AD does not require contacting Eurocopter customer